Antony confident of UPA government’s survival

Thiruvananthapuram, July 20 (IANS) Defence Minister A.K. Antony Sunday said despite hiccups in Delhi to cobble up the required numbers for its survival, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) will ultimately sail through the confidence vote. “The very fact that we have moved a confidence motion shows that we are confident,” Antony told reporters at the Congress headquarters here.

Asked why the UPA was trying to hang on to power, he shot back saying this is part of democracy.

“What to do? The opposition is hell bent on creating problems. Those who speak about horse-trading are those who are involved in it,” said Antony.

Antony warned the Left parties about teaming up with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“They will have to pay a heavy price for teaming up with the BJP for opposing us,” he said. They should not forget that the BJP came up to this level because they (the Left parties) supported them long back in Delhi.”

He justified the government decision about the India-US nuclear deal saying: “We decided to go with the civilian nuclear deal because it really benefits India. World over countries are moving towards nuclear energy and we are also doing that,” said Antony.

Antony lost his cool when a reporter asked him about media reports that the Congress had offered Rs.250 million to lone Kerala Congress-Joseph Lok Sabha member Francis George, whose party is an ally of the Left government here, to vote for the UPA government.